Spotlight Stories

Ag Water Quality Program in the News

The Agricultural Water Quality Research and Education program was featured on Fox 5 News in a brief interview at the Flower Fields at Carlsbad Ranch on Tuesday, March 20th. Valerie Mellano, the program advisor, discusses how farmers at the fields utilize Best Management Practices (BMPs) to conserve water and reduce runoff in the fields. 

“We have 22 different farming practices here in the Flower Fields and they are directed at protecting water quality,” University of California Cooperative Extension Environmental Issues Advisor Valerie Mellano said.

Dr. Mellano was at the fields promoting her Water Wise Farming that was put together in partnership with the Flower Fields. The display which showcases such BMPs, teaches home owners and agricultural farmers alike how to implement some of these practices around their own homes and growing operations. 

“If you’re really careful about how you irrigate, then the water won’t flow off the property and it won’t carry things with it that will cause water quality issues,” Mellano added. “That’s the number one improvement that a homeowner can make.”

To watch the video and read the article, click here.